Switch



Jan. 16, 1962 P. N. BECKA 3,017,476

SWITCH Filed June 2, 1959 2 Sheetg-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

PAUL N. BECKA,

United States Patent The invention relates in general to switches andmore particularly to electrical switches for alternately establishingfirst and second electrical circuit means.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical switch which isreliable in operation and economical in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which includes agenerally U-shaped contactor slidable in a slot with the end portions ofthe contac-tor biased outwardly toward fixed contacts and restrained intheir outward movement by the walls of the slot whereby the position ofthe end portions of the contactor relative to the fixed contacts isdetermined by the position of the contactor in the slot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which in a firstposition establishes first electrical circuit means and in a secondposition establishes second electrical circuit means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a makebefore-break switchwhich keeps the voltage from building up to an excessive value when theswitch is being used for example with the secondary of a high voltagetransformer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which is capableof controlling several electrical circuits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which is actuatedby an actuator moving through a straight line movement to move acontactor angularly with respect thereto and relative to a fixedcontact.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch wherein arelatively small actuator movement may be transformed into a relativelylarge movement between fixed and movable contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which has twoseparate electrical contactors which control first and second electricalcircuit means from one source whereby there is no opportunity forsparking between the contactors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch movable from afirst to a second position by a solenoid and from the second to thefirst position by a spring which switch will still move from the secondto the first position in the event the spring becomes broken.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the switch of the present invention showing theswitch in one position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the switch in anotherposition;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken generally along the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view tken generally along the line 6--6 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a view of the switch in a position intermediate thepositions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a view of one of the switch cont-actors removed from theswitch.

3,017,476 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 The switch shown in the accompanyingdrawings is a solenoid operated switch indicated generally by thereference numeral 10 and this switch includes in combination :a mountingplate 12 having holes 13 therein for the reception of screws to suitablymount the switch wherever it is desired. A solenoid 15 is secured to themounting plate 12 by bolts 16 and a plastic switch body 18 is located atthe other end of the plate 12. The switch body includes mounting legs 20and bolts 21 extend through the mounting legs to fixedly secure theswitch body 18 to the main mounting plate 12. Wall means 23 define aslot in the plastic switch body 18 which extends substantially theentire length thereof. The upper portion of the slot is defined by endside members 25 and intermediate side members 26. A cover member 28 issecured in place by bolts 29 and this cover members serves to close theopen upper end of the slot 23. The end side members 25 hereinabovereferred to may also be referred to as cam means for reasons which willappear from a reading of the remaining specification.

First and second spring contactors 31 and 32 are provided and each havean intermediate portion 34 and first and second end portions 35 and 36,respectively. The intermediate portions of each of the spring contactorsis bent into generally a U-shaped as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 andthe intermediate portion and parts of the first and second end portionsreside in the slot 23. The first and second end portions of the springcontactors extend in the same general direction out of the slot. Theends of the contactors are bent generally away from each other into whatmay be called a Y-shape. The inherent nature of the material ofconstruction of the spring contactors 31 and 32 tends to urge the endportions 35 and 36 away from each other to the position of the contactor31 in FIGURE 2 and the position of contactor 32 in FIG- URE 1. Aninsulated connecting member 39 serves to transmit movement of thesolenoid core 40 to the first and second spring contacts 31 and 32. Oneend of the connecting member 31 is secured to the core 40 by means of apin 42 and the other end portion of the connecting member slidablyresides in the slot 23 below the spring contactors 31 and 32.Intermediate the ends of the connecting member an integral stud orprotrusion 44 is provided and at either end of the stud, transverseslots 46 and 47 are provided. The intermediate portion 34 of thefirstspring cont actor 31 resides in the transverse slot 46 and theintermediate portion 34 of the second spring cont-actor 32 resides inslot 47. It will thus be seen that second spring contactors 31 and 32.One end of the connecting member 39 transmits movement to the first andsecond spring contactors. The solenoid is shown in its de-energizedposition in FIGURE 1 and this may be referred to as the first positionof the solenoid and spring contactors and upon energization of thesolenoid, the spring contactors move to a second position shown inFIGURE 2. The cont actors in moving from the first to the secondposition are such that they provide a makebefore-break constructionwhich is shown in FIGURE 7. A spring 50 is provided in the switch body18 and one end of the spring bears against a shoulder 52 on theinsulated connecting member 39 and the other end bears against theswitch body. This spring serves to return the contactors to their firstposition shown in FIGURE 1 after the solenoid has been de-energized.

The switch shown in the drawings of the application has been illustratedas controlling first and second electrical circuit means. The firstelectrical circuit means includes first and second fixed contacts 53 and54 held in position by bolts 55 and 56 which serve as electricalterminals for securing wires 57 and 58. The second electrical circuitmeans includes fixed contacts 60 and 61 respectively, secured inposition by means of bolts 62 and 63 which '3 also serve as electricalterminals and terminal 63 is shown as securing a wire 64, thereto.Electrical connection is provided between terminals 55 and 62 by meansof an electrically conducting bar 66. The fixed contacts 53 and 4 may bereferred to as first contact means for establishing a first electricalcircuit and the fixed contacts 60 and 61 maybe referred to as secondcontact means for establishing a second electrical circuit.

The operation of the switch may be explained as follows: The conductor57 leading to terminal 55 may for the sake of example, be connected tothe secondary of a high voltage transformer and in the first position ofthe switch the first and second end portions 35 and 36 of the firstspring contactor 31 engage respectively the fixed contacts 53 and 54 toestablish the first electrical circuit from conductor 57 throughconductor 58. The current flows through the length of the springcontactor including the first and second end portions and the U-shapedinter mediate portion. In the first position the first and second endportions of the second spring contactor are out of engagement with thefixed contacts 60 and 61 and as a result the second electrical circuitfrom conductor 57 through conductor 64 is broken. When the solenoid isenergized,

the spring contactors are moved into their second position (FIGURE 2)which causes the side portions of the first spring contactor 31 to bemoved into the slot 23 or into engagement with the end side members 25which causes the end portions of the contactor to be cammed out ofengagement with the first and second contacts 53 and 54 which breaks theelectrical circuit between conductors 57 and 58. This same movementcauses the side portions of the second spring contactor to move out ofthe slot at the end of the switch body adjacent the solenoid and becauseof the biasing of the material of construction of the contactor causesthe end portions of the second contactor to "engage the fixed contacts60 and 61 thus establishing the second electrical circuit from conductor57 through the conducting bar 66, fixed contact 60, spring contactor 32,fixed'contact 61, and conductor 64. FIGURE 7 shows the position of thecontactors 31 and 32 intermediate the reverse movement of the switchfrom the second to the first position is also make-before-break.

It will thus be seen that in the switch of the present invention that amake-before-break switch has been provided whichwhen used, for example,in conjunction with the secondary of a high voltage transformer preventsthe transformer voltage from building up to an excessive value becausethe second electrical circuit is made before the first electricalcircuit is broken and vice versa. With the use of the camming or angulartype movement of the spring contactor, the straight line or linearmovement of the solenoid core may be translated into a larger gapbetween the fixed contacts and the movable contactor. A switch has alsobeen provided where with the use of two separate contactors, there is noopportunity for sparking between the same because in effect there is nopotential difference between the two. In the normal operation of theswitch of the present invention, the solenoid is positioned verticallyabove the switch body which carries the contactors so that in the eventthe compression spring 50 which is utilized becomes broken, the switchwill still move to the position shown in FIGURE 1 when the solenoid isdeenergized. It will also be readily apparent to those skilled in theart that the switch shown and illustrated herein is capable ofcontrolling numerous circuits in addition to the two which have beenillustrated herein.

. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form witha certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A solenoid operated switch including in combination a mounting plate,a solenoid secured to said mounting plate, a plastic switch body securedto said mounting plate, wall means defining a slot in aid plastic switchbody, first and second spring contactors each having an intermediateportion and first and second end portions, said intermediate portionsbeing bent into generally a U-shape and residing in said slot with saidfirst and second end portions of each contactor extending in the samegeneral direction and each contactor extending from different ends ofsaid slot, said first and second end portions of each contactor beingbiased away from each other, an insulated connecting member extendingbetween and connecting said solenoid to said intermediate portions ofsaid spring con-v tactors, said solenoid upon energization moving saidspring contactors from a first to a second position, spring means formoving said spring contactors from said second to said first position,first and second contact means for establishing first and secondelectrical circuit means, said first and second end portions of saidfirst spring contactor engaging said first contact means in said firstposition to establish said first electrical circuit means and said firstand second end portions of said second spring contactor being out ofengagement with said second contact means 'to break said secondelectrical circuit means, movement of said spring contactors to saidsecond position causing said first and second side portions of saidfirst spring contactor to move to different places of engagement withsaid wall means of said slot and to move out of engagement withsaidfirst contact means to break said first electrical circuit means andcausing said first and second side portions of said second springcontactor to moveto different places of engagement with said wall meansof said slot and to move into engagement with said second contact meansto establish said second electrical circuit means.

2. A switch including in combination a solenoid and a switch body, wallmeans defining a. slot insaid switch body, first and second springcontactors each having an intermediate portion and first and second endportions, said intermediate portions being bent into generally a U-shapeand residing in said slot with said first and second end portions ofeach contactor extending in the same general direction and eachcontactor extending from diiferent ends of said slot, said first andsecond end portions of each contactor being biased away from each other,a connecting member extending between and connecting said solenoid tosaid intermediate portions of said spring contactors, said solenoid uponenergization moving said spring contactors from a first to a secondposition, spring means for moving said spring contactor from said secondto said first position, first and second contact means'for establishingfirst and second electrical circuit means, said first and second endportions of said first spring contactor engaging said first contactmeans in said first position to establish said first electrical circuitmeans and said first and second end portions of said second springcontactor being out of engagement with said second contact means tobreak saidsecond electrical circuit means, movement of said springcontactors to saidsecond position causing said first and second sideportions of said first spring contactor to move to different places ofengagement with said wall means of said slot and to move out ofengagement with said first contact means to break said first electricalcircuit means and causing said first and second side portions of saidsecond spring contactor to move to different places of engagement withsaid wall means of said slot and to move into engagement with saidsecond contact means to establish said second electrical circuit means.

3. A switch including a switch body, wall means defining a slot in saidswitch body, first and second spring contactors each having anintermediate portion and first and second end portions, saidintermediate portions being bent into generally a U-shape and residingin said slot with said first and second end portions of each contactorextending in the same general direction and each contactor extendingfrom diflerent ends of said slot, said first and second end portions ofeach contactor being biased away from each other, means for moving saidspring contactors from a first to a second position, spring means formoving said spring contactors from said second to said first position,first and second contact means for establishing first and secondelectrical circuit means, said first and second end portions of saidfirst spring contactor engaging said first contact means in said firstposition to establish said first electrical circuit means and said firstand second end portions of said second spring contactor being out ofengagement with said second contact means to break said secondelectrical circuit means, movement of said spring contactors to saidsecond position causing said first and second side portions of saidfirst spring contactor to move to diflerent places of engagement withsaid wall means of said slot and to move out of engagement with saidfirst contact means to break said first electrical circuit means andcausing said first and second side portions of said second springcontactor to move to different places of engagement with said wall meansof said slot and to move into engagement with said second contact meansto establish said second electrical circuit means.

4. A solenoid operated switch including in combination a mounting plate,a solenoid secured to said mounting plate, a plastic switch body securedto said mounting plate, wall means defining a slot in said plasticswitch body, a spring contactor having an intermediate portion and firstand second end portions, said intermediate portion being bent intogenerally a U-shape and residing in said slot with said first and secondend portions extending in the same general direction and extending fromsaid slot, said first and second end portions being biased away fromeach other, an insulated connecting member extending between andconnecting said solenoid to said intermediate portion of said springcontactor, said solenoid upon energization moving said spring contactorfrom a first to a second position, spring means for moving said springcontactor from said second to said first position, first and secondfixed contacts, said first and second end portions of said springcontactor engaging said first and second contacts respectively in one ofsaid first and second positions to establish electrical connectionbetween said first and second contacts, movement of said springcontactor to the other of said first and second positions causing saidfirst and second end portions of said spring contactor to move todifferent places of engagement with said wall means of said slot and tomove out of engagement with said first and second contacts to breakelectrical connection between said first and second contacts.

5. A switch including in combination a solenoid and a switch body, wallmeans defining a slot in said switch body, a contactor comprising springmaterial having an intermediate portion and first and second endportions, said intermediate portion of said contactor being bent intogenerally a U-shape and residing in said slot with said first and secondend portions extending in the same general direction and extending fromsaid slot, said spring material of said contactor normally biasing saidfirst and second end portions away from each other, a connecting memberextending between and connecting said solenoid to said intermediateportion of said contactor, said solenoid upon energization moving saidcontactor from a first to a second position, spring means for movingsaid contactor from said second to said first position, first and secondcontacts, said first and second end portions of said contactor engagingsaid first and second contacts respectively in one of said first andsecond positions to establish electrical connection between said firstand second contacts, movement of said contactor to the other of saidfirst and second positions causes said first and second end portions ofsaid contactor to move to diflerent places of engagement with said wallmeans of said slot and to move out of engagement with said first andsecond contacts to break electrical connection between said first andsecond contacts.

6. A switch including in combination a switch body, wall means definingslot means in said switch body, a contactor comprising spring materialhaving an intermediate portion and first and second end portions, saidintermediate portion of said contactor being bent into generally aU-shape and residing in said slot means with said first and second endportions extending in the same general direction and extending from saidslot means, said spring material of said contactor normally biasing saidfirst and second end portions relative to each other, means for movingsaid contactor from a first to a second position, spring means formoving said contactor from said second to said first position, first andsecond contacts, said first and second end portions of said contactorengaging said first and second contacts respectively in one of saidfirst and second positions to establish electrical connection betweensaid first and second contacts, movement of said contactor to the otherof said first and second positions causes said first and second endportions of said contactor to move to different places of engagementwith said wall means of said slot means and to move out of engagementwith said first and second contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS630,364 Gaifney Dec. 31, 1901 2,521,561 Batcheller Sept. 5, 19502,594,644 Hansen Apr. 29, 1952 2,684,410 Stein July 20, 1954 2,769,064Rowe Oct. 30, 1956 2,903,531 Winter Sept. 8, 1959 2,935,584 WeichardtMay 3, 1960

